Kane County Cougars lose to Beloit Snappers

GENEVA — The Kane County Cougars fell behind 5-0 right away Friday night and never recovered, falling 7-4 to the Beloit Snappers in front of 11,123 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

The Cougars, who committed 5 errors, dropped two of three in the series. With 17 games left in the regular season, the Cougars hold a multiple-game lead in the battle for the Midwest League Western Division’s top second-half playoff spot.

Starter Jason Adam (5-8) had given up 1 earned run in 19 innings over his 3 previous appearances against Beloit. But he allowed 7 runs — 4 earned — on 7 hits in 3 innings and took the loss. He walked one, fanned three and never recovered from a 5-run first inning that included 3 Cougars errors and 3 unearned runs.

The Cougars responded in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs. Geulin Beltre’s groundout drove in Angel Franco, who had tripled, and Brian Fletcher launched an opposite-field solo homer — his 12th.

Fletcher’s second homer of the game, a solo shot in the seventh, cut the Snappers’ lead to 7-3. He added an RBI double in the ninth.

The Cougars received 5 shutout innings from Jason Mitchell and 1 from Cole White.

Snappers starter A.J. Achter (4-6) struck out 13 Cougars in 7 innings to earn the win.